John Newbold Camp, known as Happy Camp (May 11, 1908 – September 27, 1987) was an American businessman, banker, and politician who served three terms as a Republican U.S. Representative from Oklahoma from 1969 to 1975.

John Newbold Camp
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1975
Preceded byJames Vernon Smith
Succeeded byGlenn English
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office
1943–1963
Personal details
BornMay 11, 1908 (1908-05-11)
Enid, Oklahoma
DiedSeptember 27, 1987 (1987-09-28) (aged 79)
Enid, Oklahoma
Citizenship United States
Political partyRepublican
SpouseVera Overman Camp
Children4
Alma materPhillips University
Professionbanker
politician

Biography

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Born in Enid, Camp was the son of Minnie C. Newbold and John R. Camp. Because of his pleasant personality as an infant, his father nicknamed him "Happy", and as an adult, the younger Camp legally changed his name so that the jovial word would appear on ballots as he ran for public office. He attended elementary and high schools in Blackwell, Douglas, and Waukomis. He attended Phillips University in Enid.

Family

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In November 1930 he married Vera Overman, and they had four children: Patricia, Kay, John III, and Steven Richard.[1]

Career

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Camp became president of Waukomis State Bank. He served as member of the State of Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1943 to 1963. He served as chairman of the Oklahoma State Board of Public Affairs from 1967 to 1968. He was GOP precinct chairman of the Garfield County Young Republican chairman and Oklahoma committee member.[2]

Congress

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Elected as a Representative to the Ninety-First and to the two succeeding Congresses, Camp served from January 3, 1969 to January 3, 1975.[3] He was defeated for reelection in 1974, when the Watergate affair contributed to the defeat of dozens of Republican candidates across the country, even though those individuals were not involved in Watergate.

Death

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Camp died from a heart attack in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma, on September 27, 1987 (age 79 years, 139 days). He is interred at Waukomis Cemetery, Waukomis, Oklahoma.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "John Newbold Camp". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  2. ^ "John Newbold Camp". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  3. ^ "John Newbold Camp". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  4. ^ "John Newbold Camp". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 6th congressional district

1969–1975
Succeeded by